Brigitte Engerer

Dvorak: Stabat Mater, Op. 58

Original version for Soloists, Choir, & Piano

For Dvorak, the Stabat Mater was a work brought about by personal tragedy of almost incomprehensible proportions when he tragically lost all three of his then living children over a period of three years. In 1875, his young daughter Josefa died at only two days of age. The Stabat Mater is based on an ancient Roman Catholic poem that tells of the Virgin Mary’s grief over the crucifixion of Jesus as she is standing under his cross, and the grieving father began work on the Stabat Mater as a means of coping with his beloved child’s death. The sadness which Dvorak instilled in the piece was then compounded on August the 13th 1877 when 11 month old Ruzena accidentally drank a phosphorus solution and died. Less than one month later, on September 8th, his 3-year old son Otakar died of smallpox, leaving Dvorak and his wife completely childless. They subsequently had other children but at the time, their grief must have been overwhelming. The composer’s only means of emotional survival was by burying himself in his Stabat Mater, which he completed on November 13th of that year. The recording here is of the composer’s original version for soloists, choir, and piano. He later arranged the Stabat Mater to incorporate a full orchestra.

Chopin: Nocturnes (complete)

Ravel - Works for violin & piano

Rachmaninov - Suites for two pianos

Rachmaninov's powerful piano writing is given due weight by two matchless interpreters of the Romantic repertoire, Brigitte Engerer and Boris Berezovsky. With the Mirare Label, Boris Berezovsky has recorded the Rachmaninov Préludes as well as the complete Rachmaninov and Chopin Piano concertos. He also appears on a Medici DVD entitled Change of Plans [2055758, Beethoven & Medtner]. Brigitte Engerer is acclaimed throughout the world for her exceptional artistic maturity and sensibility, and for the strength and delicacy of her playing.

Hymne an die Nacht

In November 1822 , Schubert put the final touches to the 'Wanderer' fantasy in C major, the fruit of a commission from his exact contemporary, Emmanuel Karl von Liebenberg, a pupil of Hummel and most assuredly a seasoned pianist, to judge from the formidable difficulties with which this celebrated piece is studded. Never again did Schubert attain such virtuosity on the keyboard, and it was this virtuosity, as much as the novelty of the work's intentions, that fascinated Liszt, who seized on the fantasy, which he frequently performed in concert and transcribed for piano and orchestra.

L'invitation au voyage

Russian Music - Memories of Childhood

Works by Tchaïkovsky, Moussorgsky, Liadov, Glinka, Alabiev/Liszt, Shostakovich, Rachmaninov, Rubinstein & Scriabin

Transcriptions 2

This disc presents more classical music hits transcribed for a cappella choir, focusing on some lesser-known repertoire.